This Is What Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Will Look Like In 10 Years' Time
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums can help you save time and effort when it comes to cleaning. Top performers are good at cleaning up dust light debris, cords and dust.
The higher-end models even sweep your floors, but they can't climb the stairs. Find models that feature intelligent mapping, real-time hazard avoidance, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots we tested were user-friendly, efficient and able to cope with the daily messes. You'll need a robot that has decent carpet-picking capability and the ability to handle stairs. If you're looking to add more features, you may be interested in a model equipped with smart mapping technology or an app that lets you control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tested dozens of robotic vacuums . She's a big fan of robot vacuums that provide the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also loves robots that recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score for navigation and has less object-avoidance technology than the most popular models. It has a large dust bin that is non-refillable and an extended battery. Additionally, it comes with an option that allows you to plan cleaning times and return to the place where it stopped last, making it easier to tackle larger spaces. This model is also a good option for pet owners as it is able to spot and eliminate hair tangled and fallen food particles.
In our tests, we observed that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined with a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles with a structured-light sensor to identify objects and detect edges. It is able to avoid stairs, liquid droplets, and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It can pause and resume the cleaning process at any time, meaning you can continue to do chores while it does. The included app provides the 3D image of your home, room labels, and more advanced cleaning options.
Although this robot isn't able to clean as well as our top-rated models, it excels in picking up fine debris like baking soda and sand and heavier items like orzo pasta and screws made of metal. Its only downsides are that it isn't able to mop, and its navigation system is less impressive.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, choose a robot vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet ability to maneuver and pick up. Many models do a decent job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile and some are capable of sweeping up heavier debris like orzo pasta, metal screws and pet hair. But they don't pick up small particles like an upright or canister vacuum and may also not pick up dirt that is ground-in close to thresholds and baseboards.
For homes with carpets the 2-in-1 robot vacuum is the best choice. You can swap out a cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for instance, vacuums and a wet mop with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and raises the pads when it is in contact with carpet, preventing it from soaking the floor. Additionally, you don't need to remove or replace them after every use. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuums/mops when it comes to keeping away from obstacles and getting closer to carpets and thresholds.
The iRobot Roomba Combo i5 is another solid option. It performed well in our tests and you can program it to sweep your home even when you're away. It can be set to mop only and we were impressed by its remarkable navigation on carpets and floors as well as its ability to go up and over furniture. The Combo i5 also has a extremely long run time and excellent path planning for such a small device.
If you're looking for a high-tech model, consider the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without having to be cleaned. It also features impressive ability to navigate and auto-empty on carpets and floors with no floor. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to only run during certain times (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running amok). The Shark isn't as powerful as other mop/robot combination models, but it does pick hair and pet hair with a high degree of accuracy. It's also the highest value of our top choices.
Get More Information for Hard Floors
Robot vacuums are ideal for floors with hardwood floors because they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to bare surfaces. They do an excellent job of picking up dust and crumbs, but they are unable to deal with pet hair and other large debris. They lack the suction power of an upright or a top-quality canister vacuum, which makes them unsuitable for deep cleaning carpeted or upholstery areas.
The best two-in-one robots combine a vacuum and a mop to complete an entire task in one pass. Look for a model that has an onboard sensor that detects any changes in the flooring and adjust suction in line with the changes. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T9+ for example, has this feature and can transition seamlessly from hard to soft carpeting.
If you have a lot of hardwood floors in your home, you might want to consider a robot mop and vacuum like the Eufy S1 Pro. This model comes with a powerful robotic vacuum with intelligent navigation that can clean hardwood and other surfaces. It also mop. Its sensors help it avoid stairs and other hazards so you don't need to worry about the robot falling down the stairs and damaging your hardwood.
The Eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to wash hardwood floors using downward pressure, rather than simply swab them in order to remove dust and dirt. Its reusable pads reduce waste and spread fewer germs. They can also be cleaned in the docking stations to save time. The mops can also be dried, washed and used again.
Both the robovac as well as the mop can be controlled from your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for example make use of the app to designate areas that the vacuum will not enter, or to label rooms or plan specific cleaning times. The eufy S1 Pro also has an auto-emptying dock that sucks debris through a trapdoor, and is then stored in a bagless or disposable bin, so you don't need to empty the bin manually like you do with other models.
Best for Small Spaces
Like the name suggests, these robots are best suited for small areas. They have smaller bins that contain less garbage, and are more efficient than larger models when it comes to maneuvering tight corners. They can also fit under furniture, where bigger robots struggle to reach. They are usually less expensive than the more expensive models, however, you'll need to empty them manually from their dirt compartments at the end of each cleaning session.
A few years back robotic vacuums experienced an important change. Manufacturers began adding sensors that helped them avoid household items that conventional sensors might get stuck on or run across. This has reduced the number of times our testers needed to clean up after a robotic snag, whether it was a power cord, toy, or piece of pet waste.
The new sensors haven't eliminated all issues with these devices, however. The most affordable models struggle with the same challenges that the older ones faced and most require a certain amount of light to be able to see where they're going. If you live in a dark house or have a lot of furniture with low-profiles, consider purchasing top-mounted spinning LIDAR units to map your space, like our top overall and runner-up choices do. This lets them work in darkness and avoid obstacles such as stairs.
In addition to being capable of working in dark they can also be set to use their cliff sensors only on or near the floor, not above them. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by the LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, making the robot think it's in another room.
Some of the models we recommend let you create virtual no-go zones for areas you don't want the robot to go to. This is helpful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't offered on all of the models we test, so be sure to read our full reviews of each model below prior to making a purchase.